Update: Twenty-eight arrests after string of police raids across Norfolk as part of Operation Octane

Twenty-eight people have been arrested after more than 90 police officers today executed “dozens of warrants” across Norfolk as part of a force-wide operation targeting criminals in the county.

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Drugs dog searching car at Lavengro Road.

A total of 94 officers are taking part in Operation Octane, with 19 raids having been carried out across the county so far.

Dozens of warrants have been executed with Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn, Thetford, Fakenham, Wymondham, Gorleston and Watton among the places involved in the force-wide operation.

Since the early hours, officers have been teaming up with PCSOs, Special Constabulary colleagues and other partners to carry out hard-hitting high visibility raids and targeted patrols across Norwich and in towns and in villages.

In Norwich this morning, officers met at the Hurricane Way Police station for a briefing about two raids on the north of the city.

Officers with drugs found at Lavengro Road.

Sergeant Damien Minnis told officers about warrants relating to an address at Lavengro Road and another in the north city area, both relating to the supply of drugs.

The first warrant was executed just after 8am, with one arrest made and drugs seized.

Other raids, arrests and crackdowns included:

• Two men were arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis at Heathgate in Norwich. Police called in the RSPCA to help after eight neglected puppies and one dog were found at the address.

• A house in Junction Road, Norwich, was raided by officers with a drugs warrant, but nobody was in the property.

• A warrant under the theft act, was served at an address in Northumberland Street, off Dereham Road, but again, nobody was in the property.

• In Great Yarmouth, one man was arrested following a warrant at Nelson Road South shortly after 9am. They were arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis and assault and taken to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre (PIC) for questioning.

The mum guards her puppies as police wait for the RSPCA to take them away from the flat at Heathgate which was raided this morning. Picture: Denise Bradley

• In Gorleston, a computer was seized by police investigating people who access child pornography. No arrests were made.

• In King’s Lynn, four people were arrested after a drugs warrant was served in Hillington Square. Officers targeted the address shortly after 8am and seized a quantity of cash, a quantity of suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia. The three men and one woman have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class A drugs and are currently awaiting questioning.

• Two men were arrested after drugs were found at an address in North Norfolk. Police raided the address on Jubilee Lane in Cromer and seized a quantity of controlled drugs. Two men were arrested.

• A drugs raid in Watton led to an arrest and a caution.

Some of the puppies found during the drugs raid in Heathgate, Norwich.

• In Charles Close in Dereham, officers handed out anti-social behaviour surveys and talked to people about their anti-social behaviour concerns.

• More than 70 cannabis plants were seized in a raid at a home off Fakenham Road in East Barsham. Two people were arrested, with a man and a woman in custody at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre.

• Five cannabis plants and resin was recovered from a home in Exeter Way, Thetford. One man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, producing a controlled drug and possession of a projectable spray similar to CS gas or pepper spray.

Police recovered drugs in a raid at Exeter Way in Thetford.

• A small amount of amphetamine was seized in an afternoon search of a house in North Lynn.

• A stash of offensive weapons were discovered during a raid at a home in Wymondham. One person is in custody.

• Together with Norfolk Trading Standards, police investigated a garage near Terrington St Clement and arrested two people on suspicion of fraud by false representation.

• Drugs were seized from an address in Bullock Road, Terrington St Clement.

• In Thetford, PCSOs checked up on street drinkers, with workers from the addiction charity NORCAS.

Assistant chief constable Gareth Wilson said: “The purpose of today is really to show the public exactly what it is that we’re doing on a day to day basis.

“We’re really proactive in Norfolk, we work very closely with the community to identify exactly what it is that’s causing them a problem and deal with it really effectively.

“That’s why Norfolk is one of the safest counties in the country.”

Asst Chf Con Wilson said officers were working in conjunction with partner agencies, including local authorities and highways to show police worked closely with others in helping to keep Norfolk safe.

“In relation to the drugs arrest, he said: “It’s a really important thing. Drug dealing is something which causes harm to our communities and when we get information about drug dealing we’re really quick to act on it.

“Today just goes to show exactly what we can do. A person arrested, a good quantity of drugs were found and we will go and deal with him now and put him through the judicial system.”

Police said the day’s events would throw a public spotlight on the range of work carried out every day across the county to target prolific criminals and those making life difficult for Norfolk people.

They say the countywide blitz will continue throughout the day and would not be a one off.

Other action includes visits to scrap yards, patrols to stop street drinking and drug taking and street checks on bikes in theft hotspots.